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#39.
The fourfold question concerning sin and law
(Rom. 6: and 7:).
pp. 222 - 226
It will be remembered that upon reaching the end of Rom. 5: we called a halt in order
that some important key-words of this section (Rom. 5: 12 - 8: 39) should be
considered. In article #33 we looked at the use of the word "body"; in #34 we
looked at the use of the word "members"; in #35 the word "mind"; in #36 the word
"spirit"; in #37 the word "flesh"; in #38 the words "life", "live" and "quicken".
With the light received from the study of these key-words we must now proceed,
although it must be remembered that there are others, such as "sin" and "law", and these
will of necessity demand careful thought during the exposition of the next three chapters.
For the moment our studies are limited to chapters 6: and 7:, these forming a
distinct section in that inner portion (5: 12 - 8: 39). These two chapters are occupied
with a series of questions that arise out of the doctrine enunciated at the close of Rom. 5:,
namely:--
"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound, but where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound; that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace
reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 5: 20, 21).
The position and nature of the law, the connection between sin and grace, the reign
and dominion of sin and death, and the end--"eternal life", together with their
inter-relations with sanctification, licence, bondage, and other matters of great
importance, are canvassed in this set of questions and answers.
However involved the subject-matter may be, it is manifest to all who give the matter
a moment's consideration, that the structure of these two chapters must hang upon the
fourfold question with its fourfold "God forbid" which we find in Rom. 6: 2, 15;
7: 7 & 13, and which occupies the whole of these two chapters. Moreover, it will be
seen that each question arises out of a statement of doctrine made by the apostle. We
accordingly set out the structure, omitting the expansion of the larger clauses for the time
being:--